This course will review the emergence of the modern Middle East from the fall of the Ottoman Empire, at the end of the First World War to the present. We will discuss the Ottoman legacy in the region and the Western imperial impact on the creation of the Arab state system. The course will review the rise and retreat of Arab nationalism, the problems of internal cohesion of the Arab states, issues of religion and state, and the evolution of Islamist politics. We will also focus on the evolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict and its impact on the region and will conclude with an in depth analysis of the “Arab Spring” by placing these contemporary revolutionary events in their historical context.
Please note that there is a second part to this course which is a direct extension of this part. We highly recommend to continue to the second part after you finish this one (https://www.coursera.org/learn/modern-middle-east-2/home/info).

CC

A very clear, rigorous and ENJOYABLE presentation of a very complex subject. Definitely everyone interested in the roots of the modern Middle East troubles should take this primer.

AA

Sep 08, 2017

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A complete breakdown of the Middle Eastern States emergence from the Ottoman Empire's rule to the Mandates imposted by the European Powers post WW1.\n\nLooking forward to part 2.

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Modernity, Tradition and the Age of Reform

Our second lesson is a discussion on the forces of modernity and tradition in the Middle East. The filtering of European ideas into the Middle East engendered a process of reform in the region throughout much of the 19th century. We will analyse two centres of reform in this respect, namely the Ottoman Empire and Egypt. This analysis will take us next to the Islamic responses to the crisis of modernity as a result of the inherent tension between faith and secularism. We will see how various Islamic thinkers tried to find a compromise between these obvious tensions and at times went in more fundamentalist directions.

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Professor Asher Susser

Senior Research Fellow

Текст видео

After Muhammad Ali, there is a certain slowdown in the process of reform, which picks up again under Muhammad Ali's Grandson, Khedive Ismail. Khedive is a title he gave to himself in order to emphasize the independence of Egypt from the Ottoman Empire, the Khedive being a title,uh, of ruler that suggested that he was much more than just a governor under the Ottomans but the autonomous ruler of Egypt. Khedive Ismail who ruled from 1863 to 1879, is described by the historian P.J. Vatikiotis as the impatient Europeanizer. Indeed he was. Khedive Ismail was one who saw Egypt as part of Europe. And really he was an impatient Europeanizer. He provided the means for the great advancement of the country and the emergence of a Westernized intellectual elite in government, education, and letters. Unfortunately, however, he also bankrupted the country because of his impatient Europeanizing, leading eventually to British occupation. But there were very important developments during Khedive Ismail's time. Perhaps, chief of these, and of lasting influence, the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. Ismail was lavish and at times, reckless in his expenses. Bringing to Egypt great economic stress. In 1875, Britain bought the Khedive shares in the Suez Canal and became the major shareholder in this key artery to India, a factor which played very importantly in the development of Britain's imperial role in Egypt and in the Middle East as a whole. Great advances were made during Ismail's time. In agriculture, especially in cotton for export expanding the cotton industry and the sugar industry as well. The construction of canals, bridges, telegraph, railway lines, and the modernization of Egyptian cities. The immigration of Europeans in great numbers who were needed for their expertise is also a factor of great importance during Khedive Ismail's rule. From a few thousand Europeans in Egypt in 1860, there were more than 100,000 in 1876. Many Egyptians were in daily contact with Europeans in business, in European modeled schools. Khedive Ismail found that specialized schools, for lawyers, administrators and even religious Sheikhs. For engineers, technicians, linguists, teachers, and craftsmen. He was the first ruler in Egypt to bring education to girls. Ismail encouraged Western habits, Western dress, and a Western lifestyle in general. This was all a huge step forward towards the creation of modern Egypt. But at the same time, there were mounting troubles. Financial bankruptcy first and foremost and increasing foreign control of Egyptian finances as a result of that. There was mounting disaffection of the fledgling nationalist movement in Egypt against this increasing foreign control, and this all eventually led to the invasion of Egypt by Britain in 1882 to ensure, initially, the repayment of the debt. And the British stayed for 70 years. From the very beginning of Muhammad Ali's rule, at the beginning of the 19th century, Egypt was set on a different path from the rest of the Ottoman Empire. Egypt was becoming a separate, independent, political entity. And this only increased after the British invasion in 1882 and the development rather rapidly of an Egyptian nationalist movement. Well before the development of an Arab nationalist movement.